Students and teachers across the country receive a special delivery from Toyota
Long-time partners NCFL and Toyota are teaming up with Kids In Need Foundation to donate school supplies to five under-resourced school districts nationwide, impacting more than 15,000 students. The on-air mention was made during NBC’s annual tree lighting special on November 30th, “Christmas in Rockefeller Center.” The donation ties to Toyota’s holiday ad “Like No One’s Watching,” which focuses on the story of a young woman who performs selfless acts of kindness for others throughout the holiday season. Watch the ad here.
Kids In Need Foundation’s Supply A Teacher Program seeks to empower teachers by providing supplies for their classrooms and eliminating the burden of purchasing supplies out of their own pockets. Each teacher supported through Supply A Teacher receives two large boxes filled with the items they need to fuel a full semester of active learning for 24 students.
.jpeg "A Toyota Tundra is parked with school supply boxes from Kids In Need Foundation in the truck bed.")
The school communities receiving supplies are those in which the five finalists of the Toyota Family Teacher of the Year live and work: Mesa, Ariz.; Columbia Heights, Minn.; Atlanta, Ga.; Washington, DC; and Greensboro, N.C. The Toyota Family Teacher of the Year is an annual partnership award between Toyota and NCFL where an educator is awarded $20,000 in recognition of innovative efforts that engage multiple generations of family members in the education process.
The 2022 Toyota Family Teacher of the Year, Ivonne Ortiz of Mesa, Ariz., and her family appeared live at the tree lighting ceremony. Upon returning home to Arizona, Ortiz and families of her class were surprised with boxes of supplies transported to her school by Toyota Tundras decorated for the seasonal holidays.
“Toyota’s holiday message focuses on simple acts of kindness and encourages people to connect with their communities this holiday season,” says Michael Medalla, Toyota USA Foundation Manager. “We hope this heartwarming message—and the significant connections that have been formed over three decades as a result of the Toyota and NCFL partnership—will inspire viewers to spread kindness during the holidays and beyond.”
“Together with Toyota and Kids In Need Foundation, we’re celebrating educators across the country who—in spite of many challenges—remain committed to building effective family–school partnerships that support student learning outcomes and school improvement,” says Dr. Felicia Cumings Smith, president and CEO of NCFL. “Too often, educators must use their personal funds to supplement classroom supplies. The generous donation by Toyota will impact thousands of students and their teachers.”
.jpeg "Students unboxing their new school supplies.")
“We are grateful to collaborate with Toyota and NCFL to celebrate the incredible work of educators across the country,” said Corey Gordon, CEO of Kids In Need Foundation. “In the schools served by KINF, 91% of teachers don’t have the resources they need to start the second semester. This donation will help to ensure that these teachers and students are equipped with what they need to be successful in school as they begin the second half of the year.”
Readers interested in supporting more teachers and their students can make a donation at www.kinf.org/donate.